Dr. Mamdouh Al-Rifa’i, President of the Arab Union of Customs Brokers, Participates in the International Conference of the World Customs Organization in Brussels
Dr. Mamdouh Al-Rifa’i, President of the Arab Union of Customs Brokers, participated in the international conference organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in the Belgian capital, Brussels. The conference addressed key topics including transit, electronic sealing, shipment safety, expedited clearance at customs points, and the role of the Agadir Agreement Technical Unit in facilitating Arab and Euro-Arab trade.
His Excellency met with Dr. Fakhri Al-Hazaimeh and Dr. Mohamed Talbah from the Agadir Agreement Technical Unit. The discussions focused on exchanging ideas and perspectives regarding customs work, Arab trade agreements, methods of activation, and the role of the Agadir Agreement in enhancing intra-Arab trade and Euro-Arab trade through the agreements signed by the unit.
He also met with Mr. Bashupati Pandey, Director of Technical Capabilities at the WCO, Mr. Mourad Al-Arfawi, Director of Regional Development for the Middle East at the WCO, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Humaidan, Customs Attaché and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the WCO, and Colonel Raed Al-Shayyeb, Director of Electronic Escort and Tracking at Jordan Customs. The meeting addressed a variety of mutual topics aligned with the goals of the Union.
Dr. Al-Rifa’i held a meeting with Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, during which he presented a comprehensive overview of the Arab Union of Customs Brokers, its objectives, vision for customs work, and future aspirations. They discussed ideas and proposals regarding customs performance and the role of customs brokers.
Mr. Kunio Mikuriya praised the Union’s efforts, emphasized the importance of its ideas for the customs sector, and expressed hope for the realization of its goals. He highlighted that customs play a vital role in protecting national borders by preventing the smuggling of weapons and goods and combating illicit financial flows. He added that the Union can contribute to this mission by promoting customs awareness and education.
Mr. Mikuriya expressed his pleasure with the meeting and the discussions held regarding customs performance.
It is worth noting that the World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels. It was established in 1952 under the name “Customs Cooperation Council.” Today, the organization has 178 members representing customs administrations around the world. Its mission is to enhance the effectiveness of customs administrations by developing international legal instruments to harmonize customs systems and facilitate effective communication among member states. To fulfill this mission, the WCO prepares and manages various international conventions, instruments, and standards aimed at coordinating and uniformly applying simplified and efficient customs procedures governing the cross-border movement of goods, people, and transportation. The WCO also provides capacity building and technical assistance to its members as tools to support modernization efforts.
